| What is Green? Green is an environmental
term defined as “products or services
that have a lesser or reduced effect on health
and the environment when compared with competing
products or services that serve the same purpose.”
(Source: R3) |
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Reduce landfill contributions
and pollution. Plant based containers
breakdown more quickly and leech no toxins.
Plastic is derived from petroleum and is unable
to biodegrade. Although paper can be biodegradable,
typical landfills lack the water, light, and
oxygen required for the degradation process.
Paper bag consumption contributes to global
warming as trees are cut down, reducing our
supply of oxygen, and greenhouses gases and
toxic chemicals are emitted in the paper production
process. (Source: Trellis Earth™) |
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Enrich soil.
Plant based containers can be composted along
with food waste in a commercial composting
facility. Composting is the controlled biological
decomposition of organic matter, such as food
and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like matter.
Composting is nature’s way of recycling
organic waste into new soil, which can be
used in vegetable and flower gardens, landscaping,
and many other applications. (Source: R3) |
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Reduce reliance on petrochemicals.
Plastics are made from petroleum products
which are non-renewable and generate pollution
and greenhouse gases. Plastic consumption
increases our dependency on oil and foreign
oil supplies. Just 14 plastic shopping bags
contain enough embodied petroleum energy to
drive a car 1 mile. (Source: Trellis Earth™) |
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Contribute to good health.
There are legitimate health concerns from
eating or drinking out of foam or plastic
containers. Styrene is a suspected human carcinogen
and is in every Styrofoam™ product.
Styrene migration occurs when the styrene
leaves the Styrofoam™ and actually enters
the food that's being held in the container.
Styrene is fat soluble and stays in the body.
Hot liquids (like soup or coffee) increase
the rate of migration. |
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Take a visible stand
on environmental or sustainable business practices.
As consumers are increasingly committed to
protecting their environment, the demand for
biodegradable materials will increase. Retailers
who use environmentally friendly products
will distinguish themselves from their competitors. |
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Prices are coming down.
As these products are more widely used, their
prices are dropping. Increasing petroleum
prices have also made biodegradable and compostable
products more competitive. |
